Omaha daily bee., 1887-03-20
MIR. .Rosewatep's Charges.

of the parties who have been charged
with bribery and conspiracy in connect
ion with the anti-gamblng bill, because |
the editor of the BEE has seen fit TO 60 |
cas-. on private business. is in keeping |
with their course ever since the legis-
lature has been in session. More than
three weeks ago MIR. Rosewater made
known TO various parties that he would
be obliged to make business trip 10 Chi
cago. and perhaps further east, between
the 18th aud Goth of March, Among
these parties were Senator Lininger, W.
j. Connell, Fred w. Gray, Frank
Murphy and dozen others.
The charges we're filed on Monday,
March IA. The next morning, just as
soon as notice was served on him that
the committee was organized, Mr.. Rose
water appeared before that body with a
carefully prepared memorandum giving
all the particulars and details which
formed the basis of his charges. He pub
llcly stated to the committee that this
memorandum would enable them
to send for all the witnesses
| and cary on very thorough investi-
| cation in case anything should
befall him personally, or if for some rea-
| son he could not be present. At the re-
quest OF the committee MIR. Rosewater
went before the clerk of the supreme
court and certified under oath that this
memorandum contained the facts known
| to him in this case.
| 1t will be remembered that the house
adopted the original resolutions, after
/ nd f,,l1 Lob 70 tD In tho In
| cation within closed doors. Acting upon
the belief that this procedure would be
strictly followed, Mr.. Rosewater took
pains to prepare his memorandum, but
when the house rescinded its action and
| directed the committee to take no testi
| mony unless the members of the judici-
ary committee were present, he withdrew
his memorandum. as he had right to
do. Had he left it with the committee
the parties implicated would at once have
been placed in possession of all the
proofs which were likely to be brought
against them. They would have been
enabled to concoct story of their own
to counteract and contradict the proba-
BILE testimony, and to block the wheels
of investigation by sending away
witnesses or controlling such as
were willing to become their tools
The fact is that the reactionary work
of the house was the result of a plot got
ten up by members of the judiciary COM
mittee who had become frightened over
the prospect that their crooked work
would be exposed to the public if the in
vestigation were carried on within closed
doors and each witness testified by him
self without knowing what any other
witness had told. 1t would have been
utterly impossible for the conspirators in
the separate examination to agree npon
any story that could not have been broken
up by cross-examination. If each one,
however, could hear what the others
testified or read the testimony before he
testified it would be but natural for him
to adopt his answers to the explanations
given by his confederates. So far as run
ming away or evading the responsibility
MIR. Kosewater expressly declares in his
letter to the committee that he will re-
turn in a few days and hold himself
ready to proceed, even if the house per.
sists in carrying on the inquiry under
conditions which on their face are IN
tended to frustrate the main object OF
the investigation. The fact that re.
sponsible editor would prefer a grave
criminal charge against members of the
, committee, face them on the floor of the
house when the charges were presented
and remain about the capital wher
threats were freely made against hil
life both by members and outside parties
r is in itself sufficient answer. Mr.. Rose
. water not only presented those charges
/. in good faith but was ready to prosecut,
the case in equally good faith. He ha(
all the proofs within his reach to sustain
> > the charges. The rogues and their apollo
gists may make themselves merry ver hi
absence but he will return soon enougl
to plague them and refute all tn
ISLANDERS they may heap upon him. /
o was Mr.. Rosewater's Intention to 90 t
/. New York Immediately after the investi
J. cation, but because of the adjournmen
!. of the house from Tuesday to Friday h
decided to 60 only US far as Clevelan'
and return in time to take hand in thi
J.. business. If a fair chance is given. H
will be absent just one week from the da
y he left Omaha. unless something unavold
a able occurs to detain him.
AS 10 Star-CnamDer SESSIONS, ~ Will D
remembered that two years ago, whel
O MIR. Rosewater was called as a witness il
!. the school land fraud investigation befor
q the legislature. he refused to testify ur
;. less outside parties, including reporters
h were excluded. Heinsisted that he woul
not disclose the names Of his informant
for the benefit of the accused parties, VIII
|. might take advantage of their know
j. edge and induce the witnesses to plac
r themselves beyond the reach of the sci
h geant.at-arms. The committee carried on
d Mr.. Rosewater's request and held the II
v vestigation with closed doors. 1t is tru
that the committee afterwards did ope
the doors and thereby make complet
Il farce of the investigation just rs was il
a. tended by the parties who had manipl
"a lated the committee.
a Chances For Advancement.
8, II the question were asked. How man
n. | men In Great Britain arose from III